This is the first known British Chinese novel depicting the daily lives of what it means to strandle being British and Chinese. This also helped to pave the way for more British Chinese Writers.

12 year old Xing Li and her older brother Lai Ker are sent to live with their grandmother, after the unexpected death of their sole parent. Xing Li documents her life as wry diary entries; noting aspects of what her elders tell her about being a 'true chinese', whilst she navigates the intersections of gender, hertiage, age, ability, language access and so forth.

Xing Li looks up to Lai Ker, and how he navigates the same intersections; physically or using the stereotypes to make others fear him. Both Xing Li and Lai Ker try to resist the colonial pressures in their own way.

Xing Li recounts her days at her private school, surviving escalating bullying and violence, and finds a place of refuge in the toilet by the library. She befriends the only dual heritage child in her school. As Xing Li learns more about her heritage and family secrets, she also makes decisions to fight for her own voice to be heard.

This book made me laugh, cry and curse.
I laughed so much at Xing Li's curiosities, and my heart aches as she grows awareness of racism, and finding her way to become a CHM (you will have to find out what that means!)
I cried at the simularities in our experiences at school, the pressure to be the model minority and the realisation that not everyone has your best interests at heart.
I curse and became furious at seeing adultification in writing.

This is a story for everyone who has to grow up as the other and having to find their fit.
This is also a story for those who don't get to hear 'I love you forever and one week' anymore.